A Window Of Understanding On World-Class Whitewater

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RAFTING: “You need to understand that the rapids ahead are filled with danger. You are going to be pushed and challenged. You need to follow my instruction as I guide you.”

Through the open bus windows the roar of rapids could be heard as the river guide reinforced the important understandings that would lead to a safe and fun river adventure. This is rafting and more, but through a much different window of understanding transformational spiritual insights are discovered as rafters navigate world-class whitewater with Alpine Adventures.

Alpine Adventures is a “slice” of Alpine Ministries, which also includes Alpine Bible Camp, Alpine Retreats, and T.R.E.E. (an Outdoor Education Program). Alpine Ministries is a ministry of Appalachian Bible College, which is a regionally accredited Bible college educating and equipping servants in the Word of God for effective ministry in independent, fundamental local churches.

MORE THAN AN EXPERIENCED RIVER GUIDING SERVICE

Alpine Adventures started in 1974 as an optional activity during a week of family camp, providing campers the opportunity to experience rafting on a fairly calm section on the New River in West Virginia. From that meager beginning, the ministry has grown into a full adventure operation, utilizing the many natural resources located nearby in southern West Virginia. Alpine Adventures is a licensed Christian river outfitter operating on the New and Gauley Rivers where rafters can experience some of the best whitewater in the world.

In addition to rafting, Alpine Adventures offers a variety of packages that include other high adventure activities found in the local area, such as wild caving, rappelling, a giant ropes course, hiking, paintball and more. While all of our activities are teaming with adventure, it is the whitewater rafting that tops the list for most people. More people climb into a raft or inflatable kayak each year to take on the thrill of the whitewater than participate in all the other activities combined.

Alpine is blessed to have many natural resources as avenues for adventure. They are however merely “tools” for accomplishing a much greater purpose: “To provide participants with quality adventure experiences that lead to the discovery of God’s grace; thereby confronting each participant to grow in his/her relationship with Christ and others.” We want to introduce people to the saving grace of Jesus, or help them grow in the relationship they have already established with Him.

Our goal is to move our guests closer to Christ through their experiences at Alpine by tying powerful biblical truths to memorable experiences.

Sometimes that happens as participants reflect on the beauty and intricacy of God’s creation and then ultimately on God the creator. As the Bible says, “There are things about God that people cannot see—his eternal power and all that makes him God. But since the beginning of the world, those things have been easy for people to understand. They are made clear in what God has made”. The analogies that naturally come out in the adventure activities provide a window for an individual to better understand his or her faith. We try to be very intentional in using these experiences to help them understand deeper spiritual truths. There are a lot of rafting companies that will take you down the river safely — We do it with a purpose.

THE OPEN WINDOW OF ADVENTURE

An example of how we open a window to deeper purpose is when I share the Bible story of God telling Jeremiah that He has plans for the nation of Israel. They are plans for welfare and not for evil, to give them a future and a hope. As a river guide, I have a plan for my guests; it’s a good plan; a plan for their welfare. I know the rapids they will face; the route I will take them; where the dangers are that I will guide them around; and also where the most exciting hits are that I want to take them through. They will have to trust me when I plow them right through the biggest waves in Middle Keeneys as well as when I steer them around the inviting, but dangerous, hole at Bus Stopper. To run the planned routes, it will require them to trust me and obey, without questioning the paddling commands I give them.

We don’t skirt all the challenging rapids. They provide insight into spiritual truths that transfer to all aspects of life.

We don’t skirt all the challenging rapids. Those rapids after all are what our guests want on a rafting excursion. It is the adventure and being pushed beyond their comfort zone that makes them feel alive. In the same way, God doesn’t remove all of the challenges of life. in fact, He often takes us through them to deepen our trust in Him and shape our character. The whitewater adventure viewed through this window helps all of us to find purpose, live faith with meaning and understand what it truly means to be “alive.”

If it then makes sense for our guests to trust their guide with their life, who they usually didn’t even know a few hours earlier, they can more easily conclude how much more sense it makes to trust God with full abandonment and obedience. Every trip provides experiences that are specific to that trip and the guests who enjoy them. These experiences lend themselves to analogies and debriefings that provide insight and understanding of spiritual truths that transfer to all aspects of life.

A DAY ON THE RIVER – WHAT TO EXPECT

A typical day on the Lower New River starts with a “meet & greet” at 9:30am in the Alpine Lodge with the trip leader, who makes sure all the guests understand what they need to bring for the day and what they need to do next. After a visit to the life jacket shed to pick up the gear they need for the day (life jacket, paddle, & helmet), our guests participate in a “trip talk” where they are briefed on what to expect and what is expected of them while on the river. From there, everyone loads onto a re-purposed school bus for the 30 minute drive to the put in where they will meet their boat guide who has been busy preparing their raft for the day.

Start early at the Alpine Lodge for a “trip talk”. Practice in the calm pool of the put in. Then negotiate twenty class III-V rapids through rugged and beautiful terrain. After lunch, gather together for a devotional conversation.

After introductions, guests carry their rafts to the river to start their seven-mile trip. After paddling instruction has been given and practiced in the calm pool at the put in, all rafts are pointed downstream, and guests get their first taste of whitewater as they enter a rapid named “Indigestion.”

There will be twenty more, class III-V, rapids to be negotiated as the New River cuts through some of the most rugged and beautiful terrain in the gorge before reaching the take out at Fayette Station. Partway through the trip, the whole group (typically 3-6 boats) will pull up to a sandy beach for a riverside picnic lunch. After lunch, one of the guides will gather the group together for a river devotional before going back out to enjoy the rest of the river. Each boat will also take time in one of the calmer pools toward the end of the trip to reflect on their experiences and enjoy another devotional time led by their guide.

Rafting trips run, rain or shine from April through September; at which time Alpine typically switches over to the Gauley River for “Gauley Season.” The Gauley is considered to be one of the top-10 whitewater rivers in the world when it is running in September and October. A Gauley trip is similar to a New River trip, except it starts earlier in the day, ends later, and produces more adrenaline.

Regardless of the river you choose, your rafting trip will be thrilling and end safely. More significantly you’ll have the chance to gain a bigger view on your world. Not only will you be challenged physically and mentally, your faith will be challenged. The river is flowing. The spirit of adventure is calling. Listen through the window. The Spirit of God beacons you to a world-class calling.

All photos in this article provided by Alpine ministries. Used with permission.